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Patented June Z8, 1885.

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C. B. RIDER.

WOOD FLOORING.

N4 PETERS Phommhmpw. washingmn. D. c.

(No Model.)

' combination with the block A in Fig. 1.

UivrTED STATES PATENT' Orifice.

CHARLES E. RIDER, OF ROCHESTER, NEV YORK.

WOOD FLOORING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,697I dated June 23, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom, it may col/werft:

Be it known that I, CHA-nnss E. RIDER, of the city of Rochester, county of Monroe, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vood Flooring, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to wooden floors, and the novel features in which its consists are particularly specified in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my improved flooring-blocks. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of another form of block used in Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line s s in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 isa sectional view along the lines a' fr in Fig. 2 and xx' and x 00 in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a wood flooring-tile embodying my invention. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same along the line 1/ y in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line z z, Fig. 6.

My improved ooring-block A, Fig. l, is of wood, so laid as to present the end of the grain for the wearing-surface which maybe square, oblong, rhombic, or rhomboidal. The block is p rismatic in shape, and has a horizontal groove, g, ou three of its vertical sides. These grooves are preferably placed about midway between the upper and lower surfaces of the block. The grooves on the two sides adjacent to the side having the tongue t are as nearly as possible of equal dimensions and as nearly as possible in the same plane, and are to receive the separate tongues b, as described below. On the fourth vertical side of the block A is a tongue, t, integral with the block and corresponding in dimensions with the groove on the opposite side, and as nearly as possible in the plane of said groove, because, as will be seen below, the tongue t of one block is to be inserted into that groove of the adjacent block which lies opposite to the tongue of the latter. The block B differs from A only in having a groove of suitable dimensions in place of the tongue t. Both kinds of blocks are accurately and rapidly made by suitable machinery. Ihe tongues or keys Z) are of any suitable material, but preferably of wood,with the grain longitudinal, are a little shorter than the corresponding side of the tile into which they are to enter, and are of suitable width and thickness to fill the grooves for which L they are designed. The tongues or strips c are preferably made of wood, and are of such dimensions as will be obvious from an inspection ofthe drawings. The tongue or strip d is preferably made of wood, and in practice I make it of the same dimensions as b, though it may vary considerably in width and thickness. It should be about as long as the corresponding side of the tile into which it enters. The tongues t and b I insert without glue or cement. A fairly good fit is all that is required. The strips or tongues Vc and (1 are to be glued, cemented, or otherwise secured in their grooves.

To compose a tile' of, say, twenty-five blocks, as represented in Fig. 6, I begin at the lower left-hand corner and place four blocks, A, and one block, B, in position to form the lower horizontal row. Into the groove presented in the upper edge of this row I insert a tongue, b. A second horizontal row of blocks is then added, and a second tongue, b, and so on-until the fifth row of blocks is in place. I then put glue into the grooves presented in the four edges of the assemblage and insert the strips or tongues c. Theglue having set, if I desire greater strength, I groove the lower surface of the tile and insert the tongue d.

It is obvious that various modifications in the order and method of assembling are practicable; that two or moretongues, d, may be used; that tongues, d, placed in the outer row of blocks all around the tile may be substituted for the tongues c; that a number of blocks greater or less than that used in our illustration may enter into the composition of a tile 5 that a tile may be composed wholly of blocks A if a tongue, d, be substituted for a tongue, c, in the right-hand vertical row, (Fig. 6,) or if the integral tongues of this row be cut away and a sawkerf substituted after the blocks are assembled; that the tilemay be square, oblong, rhombic, or rhomboidal, according to the kind of blocks used in its composition, and that an entire floor may be laid in this way (save the tongues d) if the perfection of surface which is now possible only in the shop is not required.

The more important advantages of my invention may be enumerated as follows: First, I am enabled to form tiles or sections of convenient size and suficient strength for polishing in theshop and for transportation; second, the tongues b and c (and d when used) prevent in dry weather the contraction of the tile asa whole, the inevitable shrinkage showing itself by in considerable openings between individual blocks; third, the tongues b and t serve to hold the blocks from springing from the foundation-floor if only a neighboring` block is securely nailed or cemented; fourth, the case with which the assemblage is made and the individual blocks are secured in position causes the product to be relatively cheap.

The sections or tiles may be laid with tongues and grooves preferably lying in a plane below that of t,b, and c, or they may be nailed or cemented to the foundation-floor without the use of tongues. In either case I prefer steel-wire nails without heads driven through the center of a few of the per'ip'neral blocks of a tile. The foundation should be as level and as perfect as possible.

Having thus described my invention in a manner sufficient to enable any one skilled in the art to practice it, I claiml. The wood iiooring-block A, having three grooves and one tongue, substantially asl described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the wood flooringblock A, having three grooves and one tongue, with the block B, having four grooves, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth. y

3. The combination of the wood flooringblocks A A, having each three grooves and one tongue, with the tongues b b, inserted into the grooves between the contiguous rows of said blocks, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination of the wood iiooringblocks A A, having each three grooves and one tongue, and the blocks B B, having ea-ch four grooves, with the tongues b b, inserted into the grooves between the contiguous rows of said blocks, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination consisting of the wood flooring-blocks A A, having each three grooves and one tongue, the blocks B B, having each four grooves, the tongues b b, inserted into the grooves between the contiguous rows of said blocks, and the tongues c c. cemented into the grooves presented in the edges of the assemblage, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination of the wood ooringblocks A A, having each three grooves and one tongue, with the tongues b b, inserted into the grooves between the contiguous rows of said blocks, and the tongues dd, cemented into grooves cut in the under surface of the assemblage, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination consisting of the wood flooring-blocks A A, having each three grooves and one tongue, the blocks B B, having each fourgrooves, the tongues b b, inserted into the grooves between the contiguous rows of blocks, the tongues c c, cemented into the grooves presented in the edges of the assemblage, and the tongue d, cemented into a groove cut on the under surface of the assemblage, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

CHARLES E. RIDER.

Vitnesses:

H. G. PHILLIPS,

WILLIAMs. 

